Explorer Profile Larry’s love of the outdoors led him to pursue a Masters degree in Recreation Management. Cross-country skiing in Montana’s Mission Mountains was part of his work with the University of Montana’s CORE program. Larry grew up in central North Carolina and like many children spent much of his time playing in the woods and creeks near his family’s house. After going to college for two years, Larry went to work in an outdoor retail store. That’s where he developed a real love for the natural environment, outdoor recreation activities, photography, and an interest in teaching others about the outdoors. After working for several years, Larry returned to college to pursue a Forestry degree at North Carolina State University. During his junior year, he and a friend took their bicycles and flew to Cody, Wyoming, to “explore the West.” This was his first trip west of the Mississippi River. For six weeks they rode through Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. It was during that trip that Larry fell in love with the West. He knew that he would eventually live there. After graduating, Larry moved to Missoula, Montana, to continue his education. While completing his Masters Degree in Recreation Management, he worked as a teaching assistant in the University of Montana Recreation Department, instructing students in the Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Education (CORE) program. Here he was able to combine many of the things he enjoyed—being outdoors, teaching, skiing, hiking, camping, climbing, etc. And best of all, he was getting paid to do it! During his last year in graduate school, Larry worked for a season with the U.S. Forest Service in Idaho issuing river permits on the Salmon River. He lived in a small cabin at the wilderness boundary on the “River of No Return.” Each day after work he could hike into the wilderness, paddle his kayak, or just sit along the river and enjoy being outside. As Larry discovered when he moved out West from his native North Carolina, there’s plenty to explore, including Angel Glacier in Alberta, Canada. Larry has made good use of his photography skills while working at the NCA. You can see many of his photos on the NCA website. Patrolling the Snake River on a beautiful day–no wonder Larry likes his job so much! But the river’s hazards, including rocks and fast currents, pose dangers for boaters and rafters, so Larry and other NCA rangers have to be prepared to act quickly if trouble occurs. The following year Larry started working for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). He’s worked in Idaho for the last ten years. In 1994 Larry began working as a Park Ranger in the Snake River Birds of Prey NCA as the area’s first employee. As a park ranger, Larry’s job focuses not on law enforcement but on education. As a matter of fact, he sees himself as an “education ranger.” When he comes in contact with people while doing routine patrols of the area, he tries to educate them about the importance of the area and about how BLM is trying to manage the NCA for the protection of raptors. Larry doesn’t spend all his time roaming the desert surrounding the Snake River canyon. He started an education program for the NCA that includes presentations with five live raptors. These birds all have permanent injuries, which means they can’t be released back into the wild But their injuries do not diminish their impact. When Larry goes to a classroom with a great horned owl or Swainson’s hawk, the children are always amazed to come face-to-face with such an impressive animal. Larry loves watching the expressions on the students’ faces as they get to see up-close the razor-sharp talons and flesh-ripping beaks of the raptors. Larry particularly enjoys his job when he can introduce live raptors–like Copper, a short-eared owl–to groups of schoolchildren (left). Larry has plenty of educating to do, including reminding visitors about shooting regulations. Larry believes that people need to know about birds of prey and about why they are an important part of our environment. People also need to be aware of how we humans have an impact on these amazing birds. Scientists know, for example, that toxic chemicals can work their way up the food chain and threaten raptor populations. And loss of habitat is another, more direct cause of raptor population declines. Animal habitat includes four basic items--food, water, shelter, and space. Eliminating one of these items destroys the animal’s chance for survival. As humans have expanded their cities, agriculture, and industry, particularly into natural areas, and added to pollution, it means one or more of the raptor habitat needs are removed. Larry helps visitors to the NCA to learn many things about birds of prey and to appreciate how awesome and important the raptors are. But he also hopes to get this message across to people who can’t visit the NCA in person. So recently he’s been working to bring the NCA to the world through the Internet. You can see the results of his efforts by checking out the NCA’s website: http://www.id.blm.gov/bopnca/index.html